->'''Game Designer''': Hey, boss. We're almost done with that game we were talking about at the bar. You know, that game about stocks and bonds you said would be totally fun?\\'''Game Producer''': I was kidding, you stupid asshole.\\'''Game Designer''': Oh... Well, it's pretty much ready to go. What should we do now?\\'''Game Producer''': I... I don't know. Put the word "kid" in the title and get out of my office. We'll worry about you getting fired later. Jesus, we're fucked.-->--'''{{Creator/Seanbaby}}''' reviews ''[[http://www.seanbaby.com/nes/nes/basedoncrap06.htm Wall Street Kid]]''

While most early VideoGames fit into some category of "simulation" (flying games are Flight Simulators, racing games are Car Simulators -- heck, even ''VideoGame/{{Pong}}'' was basically a virtual simulation of table tennis), the term "Simulation Game" usually refers to a genre of programs for which the term "game" is really a misnomer: a SimulationGame is more of a "toy" (by the definitions used by those who study such things academically) than a "game", more akin to an Erector set than to a chess set.

Traditionally, a simulation game places the player in a managerial role over some set of resources, with which he is charged to build or do something -- the game might set some criteria for a "win" state, but this is far from compulsory; the player can generally build whatever he likes and measure his own success by whatever metrics seem best to him (so long as he doesn't trigger a [[GameOver "lose" state]] through long-term mismanagement, whether accidental or deliberate). The player generally has no direct control over individual agents inside the game world -- thus his role, depending on the scope of the game, tends to be labelled something ranging from "business owner" or "mayor" to "president" or even "god".

Probably the first game in this tradition is ''Lemonade Stand'', written by Bob Jamison sometime between 1973 and 1979: The player, based on the daily weather report, decided what supplies to buy and how much to charge customers at their virtual lemonade stand. Variations appeared for years on various platforms, even surviving into the 1990s as their requirements were so low that ports could even run on programmable calculators.

More complicated simulations started appearing in the early 1980s, such as the UsefulNotes/{{Commodore 64}} game ''VideoGame/LittleComputerPeople'', where the player was responsible for the care and feeding of a virtual person. "Digital pet" keychain devices, such as ''VideoGame/{{Tamagotchi}}'', descended from this line.

But the game which really brought the modern SimulationGame into its own was Maxis's ''[=SimCity=]''. In this game, the player took the role of mayor, and was in charge of building a city. Among the Mayoral duties were zoning areas for commercial, residential or industrial use, building public utilities, and [[BreadEggsMilkSquick rebuilding after Godzilla attacks]].

''VideoGame/SimCity'' was enormously popular, spawning a number of clones and sequels. ''[=SimCity=] 2000'', ''[=SimCity=] 3000'', ''[=SimCity=] 4'', and ''Streets of [=SimCity=]'' all expanded on the original. Maxis also produced a number of other concepts within the franchise: ''VideoGame/SimEarth'' placed the player in charge of the development of an entire planet; ''[=SimLife=]'' narrowed the focus, with the player guiding the specific evolution of a species; ''VideoGame/SimAnt'' placed the player in charge of an ant colony. Other games explored different domains in the same style: ''Roller Coaster Tycoon'' had the player develop an amusement park, balancing thrills with the chance to kill patrons in spectacular roller coaster derailments; ''Afterlife'' had the player build a heaven and hell suited to the needs of the incoming departed.

While the later games did well enough, neither Maxis nor its imitators were quite able to bring about the kind of huge-scale genre-defining success of ''[=SimCity=]'' until Maxis brought the social element into the equation with its blockbuster success ''The Sims''. Rather than focusing on an entire city or civilization, ''The Sims'' and its sequels put the player in charge of managing a single household, keeping the characters employed, buying them playthings, adding extra living space, occasionally locking them in a room with a bunch of ovens until they inevitably immolated themselves and, perhaps most importantly to the players, coaxing each other into bed.

Another incarnation of ''The Sims'' is a massively multiplayer on-line game, where players maintain their households in a shared community, and their characters can interact to, well, buy more swag and coax each other into bed.

A sub-genre of Simulation Games (usually rolled into the larger genre category) are Flight Simulation Games, which can include anything from a game with very lax flight controls and a more "arcade"-like experience, to [[HardCore ''true'' simulations]] (i.e., the non-toy kind) that accurately recreate how an aircraft flies, and [[CrackIsCheaper depending on how far you're willing to go]], incorporate an actual aircraft's flight deck and motion control and can even be approved by the Federal Aviation Administration for certified flight training. May or may not also include shooting things as a typical gameplay objective. Driving Sims are cut from the same cloth, applied to ground vehicles, and once again can range the entire realism (and shooting stuff up) range.

RaisingSim is a sub-genre of this, focusing on "building" an individual person or animal. DatingSim is another sub-genre, where the focus is on leveling up your RelationshipValues with possible {{Love Interest}}s.

[[folder:Life / Social Management Simulations]]* ''VideoGame/{{Academagia}}''* ''VideoGame/AlterEgo''* ''VideoGame/AnimalCrossing''* ''VideoGame/CielNosurge''* ''VideoGame/CrusaderKings'' (sort of; while its main genre is RealTimeStrategy, it's very character-driven with a strong dose of dynastic politics)* ''VideoGame/CuteKnight''* ''VideoGame/CuteKnightKingdom''* ''TabletopGame/GameOfLife''* ''Graduation'' (A teaching simulation with an emphasis on cute young anime girls. The localized version of Sotsugyou 2 ~Neo Generation~, and the only video game published by Mixx/Tokyopop.)* ''VideoGame/ImagineMakeUpArtist''* ''VideoGame/LaVida'' (Currently in development, which may eventually be open-source.)* ''VideoGame/LuckyRabbitReflex''* ''Magical Boutique'' (a freeware game created by Chibi Goddess)* ''VisualNovel/MagicalDiary''* ''VideoGame/MagiciansQuestMysteriousTimes''* ''VideoGame/MySims''* ''VideoGame/PrincessMaker''* ''{{VideoGame/Redshirt}}''* ''Spirited Heart''* ''Franchise/TheSims''** ''Videogame/TheSimsMedieval''* ''VideoGame/TomodachiLife''* ''VideoGame/VirtualVillagers''* ''VideoGame/WanderingWillows''* ''VideoGame/WhatDidIDoToDeserveThisMyLord''* ''VideoGame/{{Wolf}}''* ''VideoGame/WolfQuest''* For more links, see DatingSim and RaisingSim[[/folder]]

[[folder:Sports / Sport Management Simulations]]* Tecmo's ''VideoGame/CaptainTsubasa'' uses "cinematic soccer" system, which some people categorize as a simulation game. The system lets you input commands to control your player's actions and witness outcomes against the opponent team.* Most "serious" sports games, like the ''VideoGame/MaddenNFL'' series or the ''2K'' series** ElectronicArts also made ''VideoGame/NFLHeadCoach'', which was essentially ''Madden'' [[foldercontrol]]

[[folder: [[Recycled In Space as a coach ]]!]]* ''VideoGame/FootballManager''* The ''Extreme Warfare'' / ''VideoGame/TotalExtremeWrestling'' games put you in charge of a ProfessionalWrestling promotion.* ''IDomination'': a popular mod to ProfessionalWrestling promotion simulator ''VideoGame/TotalExtremeWrestling'' .* ''VideoGame/DeerHunter'': A game series that simulates the sport of hunting.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Flight and Combat Flight Simulations]]* various professional flight training software and simulators* ''1942 : The Pacific Air War'' and ''European Air War''* ''VideoGame/AceCombat'' series (with arcade leanings)** ''VideoGame/AirCombat''** ''VideoGame/AceCombat2''** ''VideoGame/AceCombat3Electrosphere''** ''VideoGame/AceCombat04ShatteredSkies''** ''VideoGame/AceCombat5TheUnsungWar''** ''VideoGame/AceCombatAdvance''** ''VideoGame/AceCombatZeroTheBelkanWar''** ''VideoGame/AceCombat6FiresOfLiberation''** ''VideoGame/AceCombatXSkiesOfDeception''** ''VideoGame/AceCombatXiSkiesOfIncursion''** ''VideoGame/AceCombatJointAssault''** ''VideoGame/AceCombatAssaultHorizon''** ''VideoGame/AceCombatAssaultHorizonLegacy''** ''VideoGame/AceCombatNorthernWings''* ''VideoGame/AcesHigh''* ''AfterBurner'' (arcade)* ''VideoGame/AirforceDelta'' series (also with arcade leanings)* ''Apache Longbow''* ''VideoGame/ASPAirStrikePatrol'' (blend of this and ShootEmUp)* ''B17FlyingFortress''* ''VideoGame/BirdsOfSteel''* ''VideoGame/BlazingAngels'' (arcade)* ''TabletopGame/CrimsonSkies'' (the original PC game, even though it was slightly arcadey)* ''{{Darker}}''* ''Dawn Patrol'' and ''Flying Corps''* the ''Digital Combat Simulator'' series by Eagle Dynamics (known for ''Lock-On: Modern Air Combat''), which consists of modules for the following:** ''Ka-50 Black Shark''** ''A-10C Warthog''** ''P-51D Mustang''** ''Su-25T Frogfoot'' (free with ''DCS World'')** ''Combined Arms'' (actually an RTS/ground vehicle simulator that also lets you command played-controlled aircraft)* ''DragonStrike'' - dragon flight/combat simulator set in the ''DragonLance'' universe.* ''VideoGame/{{Drakengard}}'' - an EasternRPG/aerial combat game with [[InstantAwesomeJustAddDragons dragons]]!* ''EnemyEngaged'': ''Apache vs. Havoc/Comanche vs. Hokum''* the ''very hardcore'' ''Falcon'' sim series, most notably ''Falcon 4.0: Allied Force'' and ''Falcon BMS''.* Fighter Ace, although the multiplayer part as now closed, the game itself is for free.* ''First Eagles : The Great War 1918''* the ''Flight Unlimited'' series* ''Chuck Yeager's Advanced Flight Trainer'' and ''Chuck Yeager's Air Combat''* Air combat sections in the ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'' games* ''Jane's Combat Simulations'', featuring:** ''AH-64 Longbow'' and its sequel ''Longbow 2''** ''Navy Fighters'', ''Advanced Tactical Fighters'', ''Isreali Air Force'', ''USAF'', ''F-15'', and ''F/A-18''* the ''VideoGame/IL2Sturmovik'' series (hardcore simulator with fully customizable difficulty levels)** ''VideoGame/JASFJanesAdvancedStrikeFighters''* ''Knights in the Sky''* the ''Landing'' series (''Midnight Landing'', ''Top Landing'', ''Landing Gear'', and ''Landing High Japan''; arcade flight sims that focus on landing passenger jets)* Many titles from {{Creator/MicroProse}}, including:** ''[[VideoGame/F15StrikeEagle F-15 Strike Eagle]]''** ''F-19 Stealth Fighter'' and its sequel ''F-117A Nighthawk Stealth Fighter 2.0''** The ''Gunship'' series* the ''VideoGame/MicrosoftFlightSimulator'' series (hardcore simulator)* the ''Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator'' series (hardcore simulator)* Any combat flight sims by {{Creator/NovaLogic}}* ''VideoGame/{{Pilotwings}}''* the ''VideoGame/RedBaron'' series* ''VideoGame/RescueOnFractalus''* ''RiseOfFlight: The First Great Air War'' (''Iron Cross Edition'' bundles some of the DownloadableContent planes released since its debut)* ''SecretWeaponsOfTheLuftwaffe''* ''SecretWeaponsOverNormandy''* the ''VideoGame/{{Sidewinder}}'' series (Released in the west as ''Bogey Dead 6''/''Raging Skies'' and ''Lethal Skies)* ''VideoGame/SkyOdyssey''* ''Videogame/TakeOnHelicopters'', a spinoff from the ''Videogame/{{ARMA}}'' series.* ''Videogame/StrikeCommander''* VideoGameStrikeSeries (blend of this and ShootEmUp)** ''[[VideoGame/DesertStrike]]''* Tom Clancy's ''{{HAWX}}'' (arcade)* ''VideoGame/WarThunder'' (free to play World War II multiplayer air combat game)* ''Wings''* ''WingsOfGlory'' (UsefulNotes/WorldWarI sim using the Videogame/StrikeCommander GameEngine)* ''{{X-Plane}}'' (Notable for certain implementations being [=FAA=] certified)* ''Videogame/VectorThrust'', a fanmade SpiritualSuccessor for the AceCombat series.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Spaceflight and Space Combat Simulations]]* [[VideoGame/ZeroXOneZeroC 0x10c]]* ''VideoGame/{{Allegiance}}''* ''VideoGame/BlackMarket'' is somewhere between this as a resource sim.* ''VideoGame/DarkStarOne''* ''VideoGame/{{Elite}}'', also blends a little bit with the resource management category above** ''VideoGame/{{Oolite}}'', an open-source remake of the above* ''VideoGame/{{Eterium}}'', a blatant ''VideoGame/WingCommander''-like* ''VideoGame/{{Evochron}}'' series* ''VideoGame/{{Freelancer}}'' is a free roaming space trader/combat sim** ''VideoGame/{{Starlancer}}'', its predecessor, is a traditional mission-based space sim* The ''VideoGame/FreeSpace'' series (not to be confused with ''VideoGame/{{Freelancer}}'')** ''VideoGame/AncientShivanWar'', a fan-made prequel depicting the war between the Ancients and the Shivans.** ''VideoGame/TheBabylonProject'', a standalone game based on ''Series/BabylonFive'' built using the ''[=FreeSpace=]'' engine** ''VideoGame/BluePlanet'', a fan-made ExpansionPack** ''VideoGame/WingsOfDawn'', a GameMod* ''VideoGame/FTLFasterThanLight'', which simulates management of starship operations rather than flying it, as it is 2D.* ''VideoGame/GalacticEmpire''* ''VideoGame/GalaxyOnFire''* ''VideoGame/GratuitousSpaceBattles'', aside from being ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin is notable in that the player truly controls nothing once the battle is engaged. Ships are "[[ProgrammingGame programmed]]" with certain aggressive or defensive behaviours and let loose on the battlefield to fend for themselves.* ''VideoGame/{{Hardwar}}''* The Long Night of Solace level in ''VideoGame/HaloReach''* ''VideoGame/IndependenceWar''* ''VideoGame/IndependenceWar2''* ''VideoGame/KerbalSpaceProgram''* ''VideoGame/NoMansSky''* ''VideoGame/{{Orbiter}} : The Free Spaceflight Simulator''* ''VideoGame/ThePrecursors''* ''VideoGame/ProjectSylpheed''* ''VideoGame/ScrumbleShip''* ''VideoGame/StarCitizen''* ''VideoGame/StarCommand''* ''VideoGame/{{Starfighter}}''* ''VideoGame/StarRaiders''* ''VideoGame/StarTrekBridgeCommander''* ''VideoGame/StarTrekLegacy''* ''VideoGame/StrikeSuitZero''* ''VideoGame/TachyonTheFringe''* ''VideoGame/TerminalVelocity''** ''VideoGame/{{Fury 3}}''* ''VideoGame/{{Terminus}}''* ''VideoGame/VegaStrike''* ''VideoGame/WingCommander'' and its spin-off, ''Privateer''* ''VideoGame/{{X}}-Universe'' series, which especially in later games is also a MegaCorp-management sim.** ''VideoGame/XBeyondTheFrontier''** ''VideoGame/XRebirth''* ''VideoGame/XWing''** ''VideoGame/TIEFighter''** ''VideoGame/XWingVsTieFighter''** VideoGame/XWingAlliance[[/folder]]

[[folder:Naval and Submarine Simulators]]* ''1914: Shells of Fury'' (UsefulNotes/WorldWarI sub sim)* The ''Videogame/{{Aquanox}}'' series (has some hints of this, but is somewhat arcadey - think ''CrimsonSkies'', [[XMeetsY but with futuristic submarines]]). Also, ''ArchimedeanDynasty'', which is the direct predecessor to ''Aquanox'' (introducing some of the characters and the setting). It also has more simulation elements.* ''VideoGame/DangerousWaters''* ''{{Harpoon}}'' (based on a miniatures game)* VideoGame/NavalWarArcticCircle* The ''NavalOps'' series.* The ''VideoGame/SilentHunterSeries''* The ''Silent Service'' series from Microprose* ''VideoGame/SunlessSea''[[/folder]]

[[folder:Pet Simulators]]* ''VideoGame/OneHundredAndOneSharkPets''* ''VideoGame/{{Kinectimals}}''* ''VideoGame/MyLittlePonyFriendshipGardens'', where the player can raise their very own Little Pony.* ''VideoGame/{{Nintendogs}}''* ''VideoGame/{{Petz}}''* ''VideoGame/{{Tamagotchi}}''* ''VideoGame/{{Furdiburb}}'' where you take care of an alien child left on Earth, while helping it find pieces of its spaceship to return home.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Artificial Life and Evolution Simulations]]* ''VideoGame/{{Creatures}}'', an artificial life simulator.* ''VideoGame/{{DinoSystem}}'', a late cretaceous ecosystem simulator* ''VideoGame/TheGameOfLife'' was the first of this genre, although it's anomalous as it has no heredity or evolution.* ''VideoGame/SimLife'' was the first popular evolution game.* ''VideoGame/{{Spore}}''[[/folder]]

[[folder:Miscellaneous Simulations]]* A lot of WideOpenSandbox games, most notably the ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAuto'' series, are essentially a mash-up of various different simulation aspects (driving, flight, social management, and resource management in the case of ''GTA'') with a driving storyline and RPG elements.* ''Videogame/CartLife'', a combination business/life/social simulator that involves you taking on the responsibilities (and [[DysfunctionJunction emotional baggage]]) of a street vendor.* ''VideoGame/CrushCrumbleAndChomp'' is a humorous "simulation" of a giant monster attack on a major city.* ''VideoGame/DenshaDeGo'' (arcade like but contains sim elements)* ''Desert Bus'', the infamous game from ''VideoGame/PennAndTellersSmokeAndMirrors'', is a DeconstructionGame based on this genre -- the game is claimed to be the first Verisimulator ("Games Stupefyingly Like Reality"), and a standout example of MarathonLevel. As the game's instruction manual describes:-->Verisimulator is derived from the Latin ''verus'' (true) and ''similis'' (similar, like). A Verisimulator gives you an experience ''truly similar'' to real life, and [[ThisIsReality sometimes life is truly grim]].* ''Videogame/DisneyMagicalWorld'', Described as an expy of animal crossing, whose residents are replaced with Disney characters.* ''VideoGame/{{Emergency}}'', a series of games that places the player in control of EmergencyServices in the capacity of an incident commander.* ''VideoGame/{{Floor 13}}'', a GovernmentConspiracy simulator.* ''[[VideoGame/LifeAndDeath Life & Death]]'', a ''surgery'' simulator.* ''VideoGame/LostInBlue'' and its predecessor ''Survival Kids'' are wilderness survival simulators.* ''VideoGame/MillenniumReturnToEarth'' is a resource management game with some strategic elements.* ''VideoGame/StarTrekStarfleetCommand'' tends to fall somewhere between a flight simulator and resource management. It was officially described as a [[SpaceIsAnOcean naval combat simulator]].* ''Trainz'', a series of railway simulators that are a lot more "serious" than Densha De Go, yet still more like a sandbox game.* ''VideoGame/{{Transarctica}}'' (an AdventureGame with sim elements)* ''Videogame/{{Uplink}}'' could best be described as a hacking simulator. HollywoodHacking, of course, because trying to simulate the real thing would be impractical at best.* ''Videogame/BridgeBuilderSeries'' Bridge engineering simulator.* ''VideoGame/OperationFlashpoint'' and the ''VideoGame/{{ARMA}}'' series are notable in that they combine soldier, flight, ground vehicle, and naval simulation aspects. Various NATO states even use a version of its engine (Virtual Battlespace) for training simulations.* ''VideoGame/AaaaaAAaaaAAAaaAAAAaAAAAAARecklessDisregardForGravity'': A game that has the player character jump off buildings, do various things on the way down, and to make sure to use a wingsuit to not die upon hitting bottom.* ''Power Shovel'' for Arcade and the PSX, in which the player carefully drives a shovel tractor to destroy targets or pick stuff to drop somewhere, all under a strict time limit.* ''VideoGame/MillenniaAlteredDestinies'' has the player guide four different races from primitive existence to space age through the use of TimeTravel.* {{Videogame/Clout}} Is a politics simulator and a darkly humorous version of the United States Congress.* ''Videogame/RulersOfNations'' is a nation simulator that covers domestic policy, foreign policy, popularity, infrastructure, economy, trade and much more.[[/folder]][[/index]]----